Originally Posted by
joesixpack
I think these "honor" killings indicate that in Pakistan the perception is that a family's loss of honor or respect in a community will result in a significant loss of access to resources. These acts, though they are barbaric by our standards, are the result of cultural and social and economic pressures that we don't understand. I'm not saying it's OK, because it clearly isn't, but I would guarantee that the socioeconomic landscape which these people face (or have historically faced) has a lot to do with it.
Having said that, I can't imagine that this sort of behavior is at all common. That it is not unheard of is clear, but I think you're really talking about outliers among outliers. The reasons given for these murders are both banal and arbitrary. Surely 15 year old girls look at people where there father or mother would be able to see and they are not murdered by the family.
The culture thing I get. Got any evidence there is economics involved?